West Virginia Code § 44-3A-5

Reference to fiduciary commissioner; exceptions and limitations
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
When the personal representative shall deliver to the fiduciary supervisor, the appraisement
required by section fourteen, article one of this chapter, and is notified as to the
completeness thereof, the fiduciary supervisor shall, unless otherwise ordered by the county
commission, proceed to receive claims and proceed to supervise settlement of the estate.
The county commission shall not remove the estate from supervision by the fiduciary
supervisor and no reference to a fiduciary commissioner shall be made if the appraisement,
properly completed, shows the total value of all assets included in the estate which are
subject to administration (exclusive of real property, unless the wuill, if any, requires
administration thereof) to be $100,000 or less: Provided, That if a dispute arises as to a
matter of law or fact, then the matter may be referred to a fitduciary commissioner for the
sole purpose of taking evidence as to making a recommendation as to the disputed facts and
applicable law in such dispute.
The county commission shall not refer any estate tol a fiduciary commissioner:
(a) If the personal representative is also the sole beneficiary of the estate; nor
(b) If the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary of the estate unless the spouse requests
such reference; nor
(c) (1) If all the beneficiaries of the estate advise the fiduciary supervisor by verified writing
that no dispute is likely to arise with respect to the administration of the estate; and (2) it
appears to the county commission or to the fiduciary supervisor thereof that there are ample
assets in the estate to satisfy all claims of creditors and others against the estate and that
proper distribution th ereof will be made, including the payment of all taxes due thereon; and
(3) if the persVonal representative agrees thereto; nor
(d) If the county commission or fiduciary supervisor, subject to the approval of the county
commission, finds that there are ample assets in the estate to satisfy all claims of creditors
and others against the estate and that proper distribution thereof will be made including,
but not limited to, the payment of all taxes due thereon and that no disputed question of law
or fact has arisen or is likely to arise.
The commission shall, before making any reference to a fiduciary commissioner, find by its
order that none of the prohibitions contained in this section obtains: Provided, That in any
case in which a reference would otherwise be prohibited, the commission may refer a matter
for the sole purpose of resolving a disputed question of law or fact or may, if the matter can
be resolved expeditiously, permit the fiduciary supervisor to conduct the necessary
proceedings and to prepare a recommendation on such disputed question.
In the event reference is made because of the failure to meet any of the conditions in the
preceding paragraph which preclude reference to a fiduciary commissioner, such reference
may be made generally or for the sole purpose of determining those matters in dispute. In
any event, such reference shall be withdrawn at any time upon the settlement or
determination or resolution of the reason or reasons giving rise to such reference or at any
other time deemed appropriate by the county commission or by the fiduciary supervisor,
subject to the approval of the county commission. If no such reference is made and it is later
found that a dispute or other condition has arisen which makes reference to a fiduciary
commissioner necessary, then reference to a fiduciary commissioner may bee made, either
generally or for the settlement, determination or resolution of the dispute or condition and
shall, in any event, be later withdrawn at any time required by this sectrion or deemed
appropriate by the fiduciary supervisor with the approval of the county commission.
In counties where there are two or more such fiduciary commissioners, the estates of
decedents shall be referred to such commissioners in rotatiotn in order that, so far as
possible, there may be an equal division of the work.

‹ Prev All West Virginia sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.